LICENSE AGREEMENTS
©2007 Michael Woodward
Every license needs to be some form of written agreement
stating the precise terms you are granting to the Licensee
(the Client).
Firstly you have to ascertain the following:
- The usage i.e. what product or products does the manufacturer or publisher wish to use your art on.
- The selling price of the product. (You always work from the trade selling price).
- The print run or initial quantity manufactured.
- The territory i.e. North America only, Europe, worldwide etc. This is the territory where the publisher wishes to sell the product.
- The term, i.e. how long do they want the license for.
CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS
Many Licensees i.e. publishers/manufacturers issue their own
agreements these days. In some cases the manufacturer’s
contract or agreement may be quite straightforward, however
too frequently publishers may insert a few “interesting” clauses
which if signed by you can sometimes end up with them owning
more rights than you intended, such as the right to sub-license
the designs for other products. You may want to do this your-self-
if the client licenses the work you will be getting only
50% of the fee.
As a Rule: Never sign a Copyright Assignment unless there is a very good reason. This is a way of the client gaining control of copyright. Licences should grant reproduction rights only.
Contracts can always be looked over by an IP Attorney but they should be specifically trained and specialise in copyright law and Intellectual Property. For small contracts for individual designs this is not really cost effective. At rates of $150 - $300 and more per hour for a good copyright lawyer this is not practical for a freelance artist. If you are earning a really good income and it’s a major license with a substantial advance it’s essential to consult an intellectual property attorney, an experienced reputable Licensing Agent or consultant for advice.
In “Licensing Art 101” I include a sample contract as well as a License/invoice. Attorneys charge substantial sums for this service. This agreement and license is suitable for simple licenses for individual designs.
Other Resources:
Volunteer Lawyers for the Art at www.vlany.org can
be very helpful. Allworth Books have business and legal forms
for graphic designers, illustrators and photographers by Tad
Crawford www.allworth.com
Fees:
Often a client will pay an advance against a royalty which
means essentially that he is paying a portion of the potential
royalties “upfront” which acts as a minimum payment.
You will start to receive royalties when this advance has
been paid off which could be 12 -18 months from signing.
Remember it often takes 6-12 months from signing an agreement
before product reaches the store.
Be patient-it takes time to build licensing revenue.
©2007 Michael Woodward